The Waikato Plan

Strategic Planners Network, 8 May 2015

Waikato Priorities Waikato

Expressway

$2.2b

Waikato’s RTC’s highest priority for 15 years

What are our next collective priorities

Where does it sit?

Why Waikato Plan?• Lack of agreed evidence base

• Limited mechanisms to articulate regional issues or opportunities of sub-regional or regional significance

• No framework for regional scale infrastructure investment

• Lack of Crown engagement as investment partners

• Over 650 policies, plans, strategies and bylaws

• Despite this effort, some key indicators are declining

Four key questions

1. What are the ‘big picture’ opportunities and challenges

today?

2. What is a realistic and robust vision of the region?

3. What is the preferred strategy to realise the vision?

4. What are the best implementation mechanisms?

Opportunities / Challenges

• Opportunities for aligned planning and investment• Maori economic participation and investment• Connectivity to the Upper North Island

• Declining rural populations and decline in services• An aging population and shrinking skill base• Economic inequalities across the region• Declining water quality and competition for allocation

Auckland’s

Growth

165k household in 30y

Waikato’s forecasted population growth

Greatest forecasted population decline

Spatial Illustration of Demographic

Challenges

NZ’s most aged community

What might we achieve

• A collective strategic response to demographic change• Improve the planning framework• Improved engagement with Crown agencies on service

delivery• Methods for coordination of ‘effort’ going forward –

reduceding duplication• Investment towards shared high priority regional issues• Efficiency savings for NZ Inc and Waikato Ratepayers

Current Approach

Strategy Timeline

Vision & Goals

305

Progress

15 252010

Alternate Approach

Strategy Timeline

Vision & Goals

305

Progress

15

Goals and

Actions

252010

Vision

Vision'Waikato Story' vision informs the Waikato

Plan vision

Lead agency: (WRC) - in partnership with the

Joint Committee

Example Goal 1

Goal: To positively respond

to demographic change

Issues: Aging population

Population growth and decline

Infrastructure and service delivery

Enabling the Maori economy

Lead agency: Mayoral Forum with

Iwi and central government

Example Goal 2

Goal: To strategically

manage and allocate water

Issues: Water quality decline

Water UseImportant economic

sectors

Lead agency: WRC with Iwi, central government and local authorities

Example Goal 3

Goal: To streamline our

planning framework

Issues: Making Business Easier

Aligned planningInfrastructure and service

delivery

Lead agency Mayoral Forum with central government, and local authorities

Next steps

Mayoral Forum to:

1. Endorse the approach proposed

2. Recommend this approach to the Joint Committee

3. Delivery from project team for 18th May meeting